Confidence

Today's focus in the Novena is a commitment to having greater confidence and faith that God's will be done in this situation, something that can be hard to release. My brother survived emergency surgery yesterday and is now hanging on in ICU with a respirator.  Today could very well go one way or the other, and I am committed to submit to God's will in the matter.  Trappist Monk Fr. Thomas Merton's words are a great comfort to me now.

"We do not see the way that lies ahead of us. It seems dark, but God is the Master of all destinies and His will is love. Let us then put aside everything else and trust ourselves completely to Him, giving ourselves to His love, asking Him to enlighten and guide us in the way of positive action, if any such action is feasible. For the rest, we must have great patience and sustained fidelity to His will and to our ideals."

I continue my prayers and ask St. Jude, my Priest & Parish as well as other friends to join with me. 

Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Comments

[Robb]

Prayers ascending friend.

[James]

"O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant your servant Michael the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

May this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer be the prayer of our heart this day.

[Damien Scott]

I continue to pray.

With Merton, we may not see the way ahead. But hope and faith enable us to see that the One ahead is the One by our side and in our hearts even now. May that One give you strength.

[Joel]

I have prayed your prayer with you and I continue to pray for your brother, and for you.

[Monk-in-Training]

The most amazing thing so far about this Novena has been the way in which each day's events have been so connected with the prayers. My brother came close to death twice today, and yet, he (and I struggled to be) was at peace with the idea. Just as the Novena said to faithfully place ourselves in God's loving hands. And to be confident in His love. It was a great blessing

[HeyJules]

I also am praying for your brother. I think of him often since that first post you wrote a few months back. I almost lost my brother to brain cancer a few years back so I stand in compassionate shoes when I pray that He supplies you with the strength to be there for your brother. God bless~

[Bill]

I continue to be in prayer for you and your family.